January 17, 2013

A survey by The American Lawyer ranks Ballard Spahr second in the nation for its percentage of women equity partners among single-tier firms in The Am Law 200 list.

The firm has 55 women equity partners, roughly one-quarter of its total partners. Of the 30 one-tier firms on The Am Law 200 that provided a gender breakdown, Ballard Spahr is among only 22 with female equity partnership rates above 15 percent, the survey reported.

“At Ballard Spahr, we pay a lot of attention to creating an environment that fosters excellence, opportunity, and inclusiveness,” said firm Chair Mark Stewart. “Our success in attracting and promoting women is a byproduct of that philosophy. More women in equity positions means more opportunities to increase the presence of women in leadership roles, which we think is very good for our business and our clients.”

Ballard Spahr is known for its commitment to diversity and women’s initiatives. In 2012, the firm ranked among the Top 10 law firms with the highest percentage of women equity partners by The National Law Journal and was named one of the “Top 100 Law Firms for Women” by MultiCultural Law magazine. In each of the past two years, the firm earned Gold Standard Certification from the Women in Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF) for its success in providing professional opportunities and leadership roles for women attorneys.

The firm’s support of women attorneys also is reflected in its rates of employing and promoting women, which exceed the national average. Ballard Spahr has higher-than-average numbers of women partners, women in leadership roles, and female associates. Four of the firm’s 13 offices are managed by partners of color, two of whom are women.